VANDERBILT STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
FOR SCIENCE
vanderbilt.edu/vsvs
Oh, Deer!
FALL 2004
OH DEER
GOAL
To help students understand the importance of suitable habitat for animal populations and
recognize factors that may affect wildlife populations in changing ecosystems.
Objectives:
Students will:
1. identify and describe food, water, and shelter as three essential components of habitat;
2.recognize that a good habitat is the key to wildlife survival
3.see that a population will continue to increase in size until some "limiting factors” cause
fluctuations in wildlife populations
4.understand that nature is never in "balance," but is constantly changing.
MATERIALS
Note: Be sure you have all necessary materials before you leave the lab.
* Materials are not in boxes! They can be found in Vanderbilt bags.
large area - either outdoors or indoors where students have room to move around
chalkboard or chart tablet
pencil
data record sheet
clipboard
64 blue cards
64 brown cards
64 green cards
6 small buckets or containers
Note: This lesson requires good classroom management. If you can, talk to
the teacher about the game before you start so he/she can help keep the
class organized and focused. Establish a signal that the students will
recognize as the signal for them to stop moving, get quiet, and look to
you for further instructions. (Use a raised hand, a whistle, clapping, or
a signal that the classroom teacher uses for a "Stop and get quiet” signal.)
BACKGROUND
The most fundamental of life's necessities for any animal are food, water, shelter and space in a suitable arrangement. Without these essential components, animals cannot survive. A variety of factors affect the ability of wildlife to successfully reproduce and to maintain their population over time. Disease, predator/prey relationships, varying impacts of weather conditions from...